Lord of the Rings: Retold

The Fellowship of the Ring

Chapter 7:

The Fellowship walks forward through the hall.

Tom, "I remember a tune to describe such majesty. It went, ~far over, the mountains rise. To leave us standing, upon the height!"

Naryn, "oh, I remember that song!"

Freya, "shh!"

Naryn and Tom, "sorry."

Gimli suddenly sees a ray of sunlight shining through the Chamber of Mazarbul. He runs in, cutting off Tom's song, and reaches the chamber, where corpses lay scattered about.

Gimli, "Haugh!"

Gandalf, "Gimli!"

Freya, "come back!"

Gimli pays no heed to Gandalf, but runs into the chamber. He stops and kneels by a crypt.

Gimli, "no! No", sob, "no", sob.

Boromir moves forward and places his hand on Gimli's shoulder.

Gandalf translates the runes on the tomb, "'Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria.' He is dead then. It's as I feared."

Gimli wails in utter sorrow.

Freya put a hand on the dwarfs shoulder to comfort him, feeling bad about her earlier comment. Borimir retracts his hand for a moment as the orc does that.

Naryn, "I remember Balin. Such a great dwarf. Let's hope his death wasn't painful."

Gandalf gives his staff and hat to Pippin, bends down, and takes from the grasp of a corpse a large and battered book. He opens it and clears the dirt from its pages.

Legolas says to Aragorn, "we must move on, we cannot linger!"

Tom, "give the wizard a second."

Gandalf reads, "they have taken the bridge, and the second hall. We have barred the gates, but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes. Drums, drums in the deep", he turns the page, "we cannot get out. A Shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out…They are coming."

Naryn, "that can't be good…."

Pippin sees a corpse sitting by a stone well with an arrow in its chest. Curiously, he reaches out and lightly touches the arrow. The arrowhead breaks off from the rest of the corpse, causing first the skull, then the body, then the chain and bucket to go over the side of the well and drop far below, its noise echo from hall to hall. He winces at each new wave of noise. Then silence. The Fellowship begins to relax.

Gandalf slams the book shut, "fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!"

Tom, "aye. What you did is as stupid as me singing in the middle of a battle."

Just then, drums echo up from deep below. Terror creeps into their faces.

Sam, "Frodo!"

Sting glows blue!

Legolas, "orcs!"

Tom, "but wait, why didn't it glow near Freya?"

Gandalf, "she's only half orc!"

Freya, "so it doesn't acknowledge me for being part human?"

Aragorn, "can we discuss this matter later?!"

Naryn, "I agree with our dear Ranger here!"

Boromir goes to the door to have a look. Arrows are shot and hit the door near his face.

Aragorn to the Hobbits, "get back! Stay close to Gandalf!"

Aragorn, dropping his torch, runs to Boromir and closes the doors. A troll can be heard just outside.

Boromir, "they have a cave troll."

Tom, "Bilbo once dealt with some. Let me tell you, they are not pleasant!"

Naryn, "I remember from first hand experience in that event!"

Legolas tosses weapons to Boromir and Aragorn to help blockade the door. The Fellowship draw out their weapons. Gimli leaps atop Balin's tomb and brandishes his axe.

Gimli, "Aarrgghhh! Let them come! There is one dwarf yet in Moria that still draws breath!"

Freya had grabbed two spears and was twirling them, "ah, the thrill of battle!"

Tom had grabbed a small blade, and was shielding the hobbits in the back, "stay back my friends!"

Naryn pulled out Fire Drake, and brandished it fiercely.

Orcs begin breaking the door down. Legolas and Aragorn shoot at them through the holes in the door. The orcs break through and the battle begins. The Fellowship engages the orcs.

A cave troll smashes through the doorway. Legolas shoots him. He growls in pure anger. Sam looks up, sees the troll swinging his mace down at him, and runs under the troll's legs. The troll swings twice at Gimli, but hits first the tomb, then an Orc instead. The battle rages on.

Sam hits orcs with a skillet, "I think I'm getting the hang of this."

Tom started playing a tune to distract three Orcs that surrounded him.

Tom, "oooh, Tom Bombidil is a merry fellow! His jacket is blue, and his boots are yellow!"

As the Orcs stared in confusion, Freya stabbed all three in the head with one spear.

Freya, "that was a stupid idea!"

Tom, "but it worked!"

Freya couldn't help but nod.

Legolas kills orcs on a ledge on one wall. The troll swings his chain at Legolas, who avoids it until the troll wraps it around a pillar. Legolas stamps the chain tight and then runs along it onto the troll's head. He shoots the troll and then jumps off.

Naryn slashes the knees of any Goblin that ran at him, leaving them on the ground, helpless as he stabbed the hammer down on their heads!

The troll continues to seek Frodo who tries to evade its searches by hiding around the pillar. The troll finds him nevertheless and grabs him. Frodo falls on his back into a corner. The troll lifts and drags Frodo off the edge.

Frodo, "Aragorn? Aragorn!"

Frodo stabs the troll's hand with Sting. The troll drops Frodo to the ground.

Aragorn, "Frodo! Yaaahh!"

Aragorn grabs a spear from the floor and stabs the troll with it. The troll, infuriated, hits Aragorn and sends him flying across the room. He collapses onto the floor. Frodo races after him and tries to rouse him, but Aragorn is too stunned to move.

Frodo begins to run but the troll blocks Frodo's path with its spear, throwing him back. The troll takes aim and stabs Frodo on the chest.

Frodo being stabbed, "Ungh!"

Sam, "Frodo? Frodo!"

Frodo slumps to the floor.

Merry, Pippin and Tom,"yaahh!"

Naryn sees red, upon seeing his cousin in pain!

They leap onto the troll's head and start stabbing him. Naryn keeps hitting its back and legs with his sword. The troll flails at its head, finally grabbing Merry, swinging him around and throwing him to the ground. The Fellowship redoubles its efforts against the Orcs and the troll. Gandalf, Freya and Gimli take turns stabbing at the troll and dodging out of range. Naryn continues to slash at the troll with his sword. Legolas takes aim. With Pippin stabbing the troll one more time on the head and Tom stabbing it in the shoulder, the troll opens its mouth. Legolas delivers the deathblow!

The troll moans then collapses to the ground. Pippin is thrown against the floor and is knocked out, while Tom lands on his butt. There is a moment of silence. All of the enemy Orcs are dead or have fled.

Aragorn, "oh no!"

He runs towards Frodo and turns him over. Frodo groans.

Sam, "he's alive!"

Naryn, "oh thank whatever's out there!"

Frodo, "I'm all right, I'm not hurt."

Aragorn, "you should be dead! That spear would have skewered a wild boar."

Gandalf, "I think there's more to this hobbit than meets the eye."

Freya, "you can say that again."

Frodo reveals his Mithril shirt.

Gimli, "Mithril! You are full of surprises Master Baggins."

Tom, "I'll say."

Orcs are once again heard down the hall.

Gandalf, "to the bridge of Khazad-dum!"

The Fellowship runs out the rear door of the chamber, closely pursued by an army of orcs. Other orcs spring out from the floor or crawl from the ceiling and down the pillars like spiders. They surround the Fellowship, who have drawn their weapons outward. Just then a fiery light appears at the end of a hall followed by a thunderous growl. The orcs, dismayed, flee panicking in all directions.

Boromir, "what is this new devilry?"

Gandalf, "a Balrog, a demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you. Run!"

The Fellowship enters a passageway, then down a flight of steps. Parts of the steps end into a chasm and Boromir nearly falls into one. Legolas pulls him back. The Hobbits to stop short of falling in. They take another flight of stairs down. Aragorn and Gandalf bring up the rear.

Aragorn, "Gandalf."

Gandalf, "lead them on Aragorn. The bridge is near", Aragorn resists, "do as I say! Swords are of no more use here."

The Fellowship encounters a gap on the stairs. Legolas and Freya leap forward and land on the other side.

Legolas beckons, "Gandalf."

Gandalf leaps after him and Freya.

Arrows whistle into the air, striking the stone steps at their feet. Legolas and Aragorn shoot back.

Boromir, "Merry! Pippin! Hoo-aah!"

He takes Merry and Pippin, one on each side, and leaps forward.

Aragorn, "Sam. Tom."

He pitches Sam and Tom to the other side and they are caught by Boromir.

Naryn jumps after them, managing to jump the gap!

Aragorn reaches to pick up Gimli.

Gimli holds up his hand, "nobody tosses a dwarf."

He leaps forward but nearly falls back into the chasm. Legolas grabs his beard.

Gimli, "not the beard!"

Tom yells, "I've been there!"

Some of the stone steps crumble and fall into the abyss. Aragorn pushes Frodo back up the steps and clambers after him. They struggle to their feet and look at the widened gap that separates them from the rest of the fellowship. The Balrog is heard approaching from the other hall, its fiery light is seen getting closer. Stone structures around the mine collapse as it draws near. A huge rock falls from the ceiling and smashes down the steps behind Aragorn and Frodo, creating another gap behind them and weakening the stairs' foundation. The stairs begin to wobble.

Aragorn, "stay there. Hold on. Hang on! Lean forward!"

Legolas, "come on!"

They shift their weight forward, tipping the stairs across the divide and slamming onto the steps where their companions are. They leap across to safety. Turning, they continue to run down the stairs as the stone structures collapse behind them.

Gandalf, "over the bridge! Fly!"

The Fellowship crosses the bridge. Gandalf turns to face the Balrog.

The Balrog growls.

Gandalf, "you cannot pass!"

Frodo, "Gandalf!"

A blazing light radiates from Gandalf's staff, illuminating the entire bridge.

Gandalf, "I am the servant of the secret fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you! Flame of Udun!"

The Balrog strikes down on Gandalf with its flaming sword. Gandalf parries the blow with Glamdring, shattering the Balrog's sword.

Gandalf, "go back to the shadow!"

The Balrog brandishes a flaming whip, lashing it about menacingly.

Gandalf, "YOU…SHALL NOT...PASS!"

Gandalf strikes his staff onto the bridge. As the Balrog steps forward, the bridge collapses from under it and the demon plunges backward into the chasm. Gandalf, exhausted, leans on his staff and watches the Balrog fall then turns to follow the others. At the last minute, the flaming whip lashes up from the depths of the abyss and wounds about Gandalf's ankle, dragging him over the edge. He clings onto the bridge but is straining to keep his grip.

Frodo rushes forward but Boromir restrains him.

Boromir, "no, Frodo!"

Frodo, "Gandaaaaalf!"

Naryn tried to run forward, but is held back by Freya and Tom.

Gandalf, "fly you fools!"

Gandalf loses his grip and falls into the chasm

Frodo, "Noooooooooooooooo!"

Boromir grabs hold of Frodo and starts to leave.

Boromir, "Aragorn!"

Frodo, "Noooooooooooo!"

Aragorn is stunned. He stares at the bridge in disbelief. For a moment he does not move, but then orc arrows start whistling by once again, shooting at the companions. Dodging, he turns and follows the others up the stairs.

The Fellowship comes streaming out of the East Gate of Moria. Everyone is distraught. Sam sits on the ground, bows his head onto his hands and begins to weep. Merry consoles Pippin, who lay crying, seemingly the hardest. Boromir tries to restrain Gimli as the dwarf vents out his rage and sorrow. Legolas wears a look of shock and disbelief. Tom clutches his lute in sorrow. Freya can't be held back as she starts punching the ground in anger.

Naryn looks broken, crying at the loss of one of his oldest friends.

Aragorn wipes his sword clean, re-sheathes it and turns to the others.

Aragorn, "Legolas, get them up."

Boromir, "give them a moment for pity's sake."

Freya, "we just lost Gandalf! That man was close to so many of us."

Naryn, "he was like another father to me!"

Tom, "we are asking for just a moment."

Aragorn, "by nightfall these hills will be swarming with orcs! We must reach the Woods of Lothlorien. Come Boromir, Naryn, Freya, Legolas, Gimli, get them up."

Aragorn reaches down and lifts Sam up, "on your feet Sam", he looks around, "Frodo? Frodo!"

Frodo, a few paces away, grieves alone. Weeping silently, he turns towards Aragorn. Naryn hugs his cousin tightly when he gets close enough.

Later, the Fellowship crosses Dimrill Dale and enters the Woods of Lothlorien.

Gimli, "stay close young hobbits! They say there's a great sorceress that lives in these woods, an elf-witch of terrible power. All who look upon her, fall under her spell…"

Frodo….

Frodo, startled, looks around.

Gimli, "... and are never seen again."

Tom, "I think I know a song of this woman. I believe it went... Uh…."

…Your coming to us… is as the footsteps of doom. You bring great evil here Ring bearer!

Sam, "Mr. Frodo?"

Gimli, "well, here is one dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!"

With arrows notched, Lorien elves suddenly appear from behind the trees, aiming at them. The Fellowship stops and look around, alarmed.

Gimli, "oh…"

Freya, "was it a def fox and blind hawk?"

Haldir, "the dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the dark."

Gimli, "Grrr..."

Aragorn, "Haldir o Lórien. Henion aníron, boe ammen i dulu lîn. Boe ammen veriad lîn. (Haldir of Lorien, we come here for help. We need your protection.)"

Gimli, "Aragorn, these woods are perilous! We should go back."

Haldir, "you have entered the realm of the Lady of the Wood. You cannot go back. Come, she is waiting."

The Fellowship arrives at Caras Galadhon. They ascend a winding stairway amongst the trees, towards the grand court of Galadriel and Celeborn. With a glow issuing forth from them, the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien descend to meet the Fellowship, hand in hand. Aragorn touches his head reverently in greeting.

Celeborn, "eleven that are here yet twelve there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me where is Gandalf? For I much desire to speak with him."

Galadriel looks at Aragorn, reading the answer in his eyes.

Galadriel, "he has fallen into shadow."

Galadriel, 'the quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all.'

Galadriel looks at Boromir who can't stand her gaze. He starts shaking and casts his eyes downwards.

Galadriel, "many different races are a part of this group. Such diversity, may cloud judgement."

Freya gives a tense look to Galadriel, as she has been one of many who looked after Freya.

Naryn bows his head, trying to remain humble.

Galadriel, 'yet hope remains while the company is true.'

Galadriel looks at Sam and smiles. Sam continues to gaze at her.

Galadriel, "do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. Tonight you will sleep in peace."

She whispers to Frodo in his mind, 'Welcome Frodo of the Shire. One who has seen the Eye!'

….

Reviews:

Amanny: thanks. I'm glad you've been enjoying the story so far.

….

Hopefully I'm doing alright with what I'm adding.

Let me know what you think?

Also, I added who I would've cast as Freya, Tom and Naryn.

Naryn: Tom Holland, using makeup to make him looking like a less ugly goblin.

Freya: Gina Carano, a muscular beauty who I could picture in the Orc makeup.

Tom: Chris Pratt. Like the other Hobbit actors, using special effects to make him look a lot shorter.